Some horror movies change the game—others just play by the rules really well. Smile falls into the latter category, delivering a slick, jump-scare-heavy thriller that borrows from horror classics but still manages to keep audiences glued to their seats.
With a viral marketing campaign and an effective mix of psychological dread and supernatural terror, Smile became an unexpected box office smash—but does it really deserve the hype?
The Setup: When Smiles Kill
Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) is a psychiatrist used to treating patients on the edge. But when she witnesses a gruesome, seemingly supernatural suicide of a patient, she finds herself trapped in a waking nightmare.
A mysterious entity—which only she can see—begins to haunt her, appearing as familiar faces with unnervingly twisted smiles. As her paranoia grows and her sanity crumbles, Rose must race against time to break the curse before it claims her next.
Sound familiar? That’s because Smile borrows heavily from horror staples like The Ring and It Follows. But does it execute these ideas well?
What Works: Jumpscares, Atmosphere & Marketing Genius
✔ Terrifying visual horror. The unnatural, unsettling smiles and distorted faces create a sense of pure dread.
✔ Tense, well-executed scares. Even if the film relies on classic jump scares, they work. Expect a few legit “holy sh*t” moments.
✔ Sosie Bacon delivers. The film wouldn’t work without her committed, unraveling performance—she makes the horror feel real.
✔ Viral marketing was genius. Creepy actors smiling at live sports events made this movie unforgettable before it even hit theaters.
Where It Falls Short
✖ Too derivative. The film is basically a mashup of The Ring, It Follows, and The Grudge—without much originality.
✖ Inconsistent pacing. The horror hits hard, but the moments in between feel sluggish and drag out the runtime.
✖ Too many endings. The final act keeps going… and going, trying to subvert expectations but ultimately feeling bloated.
Final Rating: 3/5 – Effective but Unoriginal
Smile won’t reinvent horror, but it’s a solid supernatural thriller with chilling imagery, nerve-wracking tension, and strong performances. If you love jump-scare-heavy horror, it delivers exactly what you’d expect.
Just don’t expect it to haunt you long after the credits roll.
